Thanksgiving Cocktails Recipes 2016: Enjoy Vodka, Champagne, Wine With Dinner, Dessert And More

Thanksgiving is all about the food, but there is no reason to exclude the enjoyment of a few adult beverages before, during or after your meal.

Whether you are all about vodka or prefer the taste of Champagne or wine, there are plenty of drinks to consider creating for this holiday celebration. Below are a few cocktail recipes and alcoholic beverages that can easily be added to any Thanksgiving menu.

Rose Colored Glass

This brightly colored spiced drink adds a flavorful twist on the classic aperitif or appetizer Champagne cocktail.

Ingredients:

-.25 ounce Angostura bitters

-.75 ounce lemon juice

-1-ounce simple syrup

-Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé

-Lemon twist or rose petals for garnish

Add Angostura bitters, lemon juice and simple syrup to a shaker and strain over ice into a coupe or flute glass. Top the drink off with three ounces of Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rose and garnish with a rose petal or lemon twist.

Pumpkin Pie Martini

Add a little bit of dessert to your beverage with Tito’s Pumpkin Pie Martini. Although the spiced syrup adds in a bit more prep time, the finished cocktail is well worth the wait.

Ingredients:

-2 oz. Tito's Handmade Vodka

-1 tablespoon canned pumpkin pie mix (make sure it's canned pumpkin pie mix, and not just canned pumpkin)

-0.5 oz. spiced syrup (see recipe below)

Shake all ingredients and double strain them using a three-inch fine mesh strainer into a coupe or martini glass. To speed up the straining process use a spoon to agitate the mixture in the strainer.

Spiced Syrup:

-4 cinnamon sticks (3-inch size) 

-8 small slices of fresh ginger (skin on is fine) 

-1/2 of a vanilla bean (split open) 

-30 whole allspice berries 

-20-25 whole cloves (stems on) 

-6 whole star anise pods 

-2 cups of sugar 

-2 3/4 cups of water

On a low heat, simmer all ingredients in a two-quart saucepan for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove pan from the heat and let steep for another two to three hours. Add a little water if the mixture is too thick. Strain into a glass container and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Alsatian Spritz

Add a little bubbly to your life with this refreshing drink that contains Crémant d’Alsace Blanc de Blancs, apple brandy and notes of cinnamon spice.

Ingredients:

-1-ounce apple brandy

-.25 ounce maple syrup

-1 dash aromatic bitters

-Crémant d’Alsace Blanc de Noirs Brut

-Cinnamon stick and apple slice for garnish

Stir the apple brandy, maple syrup and bitters together and then strain them into a coupe glass or over ice in a rocks glass. Pour three ounces of Crémant d’Alsace Blanc de Blancs Brut on top and garnish the finished drink with a cinnamon stick and apple slice or freshly grated cinnamon.

Tito’s Cranberry Sparkle

Cranberry sauce is not strictly reserved for the Thanksgiving dinner table. Tito’s Cranberry Sparkle is a light, zesty drink that will quench your thirst before and after your feast.

Ingredients:

-1.5 oz. Tito’s Handmade Vodka

-0.5 oz. lime juice

-0.5 oz. simple syrup

-1 tablespoon of cranberry sauce (from a can)

- A splash of Champagne or sparkling water

Add Tito’s Handmade Vodka, cranberry sauce, simple syrup and lime juice to a shaker with ice and shake well. Make sure it is a vigorous shake, as the cranberry sauce will take several shakes to break down. Strain the liquid from the shaker into a glass with ice and top it with a splash of champagne or sparkling water. Garnish the finished drink with a lime.

Bonus Beverages:

Thanks to some advice from Brooke Matthias, Sommelier and Associate Wine Director at Winc, you can enjoy a refreshing beverage throughout your Thanksgiving meal by perfectly pairing food and wine.

For those who may be sticking to light side dishes like leafy greens and other veggies, white wine is the way to go. “For my family’s Thanksgiving, I usually make a Waldorf salad with warm candied walnuts, apple or pear slices, and bleu cheese. This year, I’m going to pair it with the Field Theory Albarino. Its aromas will bring out the fruity flavors in the salad, but the wine has enough character to stand up to the darker greens,” Matthias told International Business Times.

Turkey lovers will want to pair their meal with a pinot noir. “I love Folly of the Beast because it still has enough fruit character and oak spice to go with all the yummy — but richer — flavors that will be accompanying your plate like stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy,” Matthias added.

When it comes to dessert, pairing the perfect wine can get tricky depending on your preference of sweetness. “For an apple pie pairing, my go-to is Sauterne (a sweet dessert wine from Bordeaux). I have a soft spot for anything from Bordeaux after spending an entire year in grad school studying for the Left Bank Bordeaux Cup,” she said. “But if you want to stay away from sweet wines or just want another option, an oaked Chardonnay or fuller-bodied white would be great!”